As a consequence of ocean acidification from increasing atmospheric CO2, coral reefs may suffer reduced calcification rates.
The Reef Metabolic Index (RMI) couples remote sensing and in situ observations of carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) to monitor changes in reef community structure. The RMI is calculated as the difference between the modeled offshore pCO2 and the pCO2 measured in situ on the reef.
A pilot study is underway in the Caribbean, using CO2 measurements from the Explorer of the Seas and in situ pCO2 from a NOAA station in Puerto Rico.
For more information:
University of Miami
research aboard the Explorer of the Seas
NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML)
NOAA's Integrated Coral Observing Network (ICON)
